Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh challenged President Obama to a verbal showdown Wednesday.

(CNN) - Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh challenged President Obama to a verbal showdown Wednesday, calling on him to visit his talk show for an "intelligent, open discussion" on issues like health care and taxes.

"If you can win at this, then come here and beat me at my own game, and get rid of me once and for all, and show all the people of America that I am wrong," said Limbaugh. "If you take me out, if you can wipe me out in a debate and prove to the rest of America that what I say is senseless and wrong, do you realize you will own the United States of America?"

Limbaugh also accused the White House of orchestrating an attack on him, telling his listeners that the Obama team is demonizing the radio host since Bush left office. He said the effort was being spearheaded by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who Limbaugh refers to as the "power behind the throne."

"Don't let his effeminate nature and his ballerina past mislead you on this. He may look effeminate (he was a ballerina at one time) but he has the feral instincts of a female rat defending its young," Limbaugh said.

"I'm calling. I'm ready. I'll do everything I can to facilitate it. You're a very courageous man, Mr. President. I am, after all, just The Last Man Standing," Limbaugh said.

In January, Limbaugh called on the president to sign on to his “bi-partisan” stimulus plan, which would increase government spending for roughly half the country, and cut taxes for the other half.

soundoff(746 Responses)

Tony

Loser.

March 4, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

tina

LET'S NOW FORGET FAT RUSH'S PAST ALSO.....................DIDN'T HE STEAL PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND PAID FOR THE CHARGES TO BE DROPPED...........THE PRESIDENT IS WAY TO CLASSY TO STOOP TO HIS LEVEL...........HE IS TEETERING ON TREASON.......

March 4, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

george p burdell

Shouldn't Limbaugh be in jail for drug abuse? Oh wait thats only for minorities

March 4, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Darrell Heinemann

If such a debate were to take place, it should be between the President and the head of the Republican party. So what is Limbaugh's real status these days?

March 4, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Matthew, Detroit

HUGO CHAVEZ WANTS TO LIMIT THE MEDIA AS WELL.

Chavez said that "if it weren't for the attack, the lies, manipulation and the exaggeration" of the private media networks, the Venezuelan government would have the support of at least 80 percent of the population. Recent polls have put Chavez's popularity at a little over 50 percent.

He is forming a team with his generals to stop the media.

Love it.

Good luck barack maybe you can have the military take care of Limbaugh, Sartelli, and Jim Cramer.

It is no fun having a VOICE against the KING.

Welcome to socialism folks.

March 4, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Rush is a waste of air

Please, Mr. President, don't even dignify this slime with a response. Why would the intelligent, articulate, classy President we have, stoop down to the gutter where Rush lives.

Rush is willing to say, do, and be anything, just to keep his name in the news, it's the only way to keep his bloated ego afloat. He doesn't even realize what a hypocritical joke he is.

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

carlo

Never gonna happen, Rush. It's time you give him the respect deserving of a President. President Obama is not addressing you. If you want to debate someone, try Rahm Emanual or Robert Gibbs. They are the ones bringing you up.

You aren't that important, and I would die if I saw my President stoop to your level.

How many times did Bush or Cheney come on your show?

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Tony

With 8 years of Bush,Mr Fat A.. does not believed that this country has failed enough?What plan that he has? Cutting the tax for people like himself,getting fatter and senseless than ever.Mr Limb. you need to keep calm as the way you purchased the painkiller drugs before.Let the government does the work,and continue to preach those retards don't have a clue about normal americans are suffering.

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Nancy Pelosi

Rush,

You go!

You secret admirer

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

jah

Our Pres don't have time to debate with an prescription Junkie, he has a economy to fix. People to keep in their house and people who needs health insurance.

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Max

Obama did lots of drugs to. You need to keep that in mind. Cocaine and weed.

This would be the highest rated TV broadcast of all time if it were done properly.

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Josh

Rush picking on Rahm Emmanuel for being "effeminate?" I think the last thing Rush needs is to get into a sparring match about physical appearance. The majority of people probably look effeminate to a bloated gasbag.

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Soccer Nana

This is just to sad to comment on.

The pig has been let out of the pen and he has gone wild – a wild boar!

March 4, 2009 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

karen-Phoenix

The republican party, or whats left of it, has put Limbough up as some kind of leader. The republican party name Limbough the Keynote speaker last weekend at their meeting. ONLY 25% of the American people are left being republicans and Limbough has nerve to blame President Obama. The man is nuts and the drugs have gone to his fat head!!!! I can say this because I was a republican for over 40 years but NO MORE!!!!

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

John Appelbaum

Just Rush being Rush. Ignoring him is the only way he will go away

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Debra from Georgia

And another the Leader of the Republican party. Give me a job

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

america first

limbaugh the republicans may hop every time you say jump, but that don't mean OUR President will, he has OUR COUNTRY on his mind not your IMMATURE BEHAVIOR.

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Kris

Rush has gone off the deep end. Calling administration officials out for being "sissies"??? Obama should just ignore him, letting his administration ratchet Rush into a frenzy. The more he talks, the more he alienates the mainstream, rational citizenry. Eventually, he'll spout off some screed threatening violence against the president - and he'll be gone.

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

HBO

Micky Flick Rush!

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Bleebo

I agree very disgusting. Who in the HELL does this baffoon thinks he is, to be challenging the President of the United States. President Obama knows he doesn't own the USA, and has never injected that type of rhetoric in any of his speeches. RUSH L, you are way out of order, WAY OUT OF ORDER, AMERICA we must dismiss this type of BEHAVIOR. We can not condone it.

Sound Off people, intelligently. WE MUST STOP this acid, now.

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

carlo

Obama is scared of Limbaugh:

You're kidding, right? Limbaugh has 15-20 million listeners, and some of those, like me, just listen to be nosy and see what the other side is saying. Pres. Obama got over 67 million votes, and his approval is through the roof, while Rush is more disliked than Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers.

If anyone is scared here, its Rush.

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Josh

Also, I think the President of the United States has more important things to do than to debate with a radio shock jock.

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Skip, a black man

I would vote for him any day!

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Jeff Spangler, Arlington, VA

Go ahead, Fearless Comrade Obama, make Rush's day! Be as bold and swift as you were with your Social Bailouts.

March 4, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

chuck hope

You are completely mad now. calling out the head of world government to have a debate with you is insane.
Why did you not call out Bush that drove the world economy into a bottomless pit. Who the hell do you think you are, a speedman without self control. you are just insane